Indians in the Philippines
Encyclopedia
Indian Filipinos are Philippine citizens
of Indian
descent. This also refers to Filipino citizens of either pure or mixed Indian descent currently residing in the country, the latter a result of intermarriages between the Indians and local populations.
had greatly influenced the many different cultures of the Philippines through the Indianized kingdom of the Hindu
Majapahit
, Khmer Empire
and the Buddhist
Srivijaya
.
Indian presence in the Philippines has been ongoing since prehistoric times along with the Chinese and Japanese, predating even the coming of the Europeans by at least two millennia. Indians, together with the natives of the Indonesian Archipelago and the Malay Peninsula, traded with natives and introduced and passed Hinduism and Buddhism to the natives of the Philippines. It were the Indian Baniyas converts to Islam who brought Sunni
Islam
in the Philippine islands.
, Tamil Nadu
), British India
also arrived with the British expedition and occupation between 1762 and 1764
during the Seven Years' War
. When the British withdrew, many of the Sepoys mutinied and refused to leave. Virtually all had taken Filipina brides (or soon did so). They settled in what is now Cainta, Rizal, just east of Metro Manila. As of 2006, between 70 and 75 percent of Indians in the Philippines lived in Metro Manila, with the largest community outside of Manila being in Isabela province. The region in and around Cainta still has many Sepoy descendants.
During the 1930s and 1940s, many Indians and Indian Filipinos lived in Filipino provinces, including Davao
, which at the time had, and still have, many Japanese Filipinos and Japanese expatriates. When the economy of the Philippines
were based in Manila
, many moved there, which explains why today half of the Indian and Indian Filipino community are now based there.
and Punjabi
as well as a large Tamil
population. Many are fluent in Tagalog
and English
as well as the local language of the provinces and islands. Many are prosperous middle and higher class with their main occupations in clothing
sales and marketing
. Sikhs are involved largely in finance
, and sales
and marketing
. Most of the Indian Filipinos and Indian expatriates are Hindu
and Sikh
, but have assimilated into Filipino culture and some are Catholic
. There is a main Hindu
and Sikh
temple in Manila
.
Many Indians have intermarried with Filipinos, more so than in neighboring countries such as Indonesia
, Malaysia, and Singapore
, mainly because their populations are largely Muslim
, and the Indians there are averse to marrying Muslims in those host countries.
Philippine nationality law
Philippine Nationality Law is currently based upon the principles of jus sanguinis and therefore descent from a parent who is a citizen/national of the Republic of the Philippines is the primary method of acquiring Philippine citizenship...
of Indian
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
descent. This also refers to Filipino citizens of either pure or mixed Indian descent currently residing in the country, the latter a result of intermarriages between the Indians and local populations.
Ancient History
IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
had greatly influenced the many different cultures of the Philippines through the Indianized kingdom of the Hindu
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
Majapahit
Majapahit Empire
Majapahit was a vast archipelagic empire based on the island of Java from 1293 to around 1500. Majapahit reached its peak of glory during the era of Hayam Wuruk, whose reign from 1350 to 1389 marked by conquest which extended through Southeast Asia. His achievement is also credited to his prime...
, Khmer Empire
Khmer Empire
The Khmer Empire was one of the most powerful empires in Southeast Asia. The empire, which grew out of the former kingdom of Chenla, at times ruled over and/or vassalized parts of modern-day Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, and Malaysia. Its greatest legacy is Angkor, the site of the capital city...
and the Buddhist
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
Srivijaya
Srivijaya
Srivijaya was a powerful ancient thalassocratic Malay empire based on the island of Sumatra, modern day Indonesia, which influenced much of Southeast Asia. The earliest solid proof of its existence dates from the 7th century; a Chinese monk, I-Tsing, wrote that he visited Srivijaya in 671 for 6...
.
Indian presence in the Philippines has been ongoing since prehistoric times along with the Chinese and Japanese, predating even the coming of the Europeans by at least two millennia. Indians, together with the natives of the Indonesian Archipelago and the Malay Peninsula, traded with natives and introduced and passed Hinduism and Buddhism to the natives of the Philippines. It were the Indian Baniyas converts to Islam who brought Sunni
Sunni Islam
Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam. Sunni Muslims are referred to in Arabic as ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah wa āl-Ǧamāʿah or ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah for short; in English, they are known as Sunni Muslims, Sunnis or Sunnites....
Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
in the Philippine islands.
Colonial Period
Sepoy troops from Madras (now ChennaiChennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
), British India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
also arrived with the British expedition and occupation between 1762 and 1764
Battle of Manila (1762)
The Battle of Manila was fought during the Seven Years' War , from September 24, 1762 to October 6, 1762, between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Spain in and around Manila, the capital of the Philippines, a Spanish colony at that time.-Prelude:British troops stationed in India were...
during the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
. When the British withdrew, many of the Sepoys mutinied and refused to leave. Virtually all had taken Filipina brides (or soon did so). They settled in what is now Cainta, Rizal, just east of Metro Manila. As of 2006, between 70 and 75 percent of Indians in the Philippines lived in Metro Manila, with the largest community outside of Manila being in Isabela province. The region in and around Cainta still has many Sepoy descendants.
During the 1930s and 1940s, many Indians and Indian Filipinos lived in Filipino provinces, including Davao
Davao
Davao refers to several closely related places in Mindanao in the Philippines. The term is used most often to refer to the city.*Davao Region, an administrative region*Davao del Norte province*Davao del Sur province*Davao Oriental province...
, which at the time had, and still have, many Japanese Filipinos and Japanese expatriates. When the economy of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
were based in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, many moved there, which explains why today half of the Indian and Indian Filipino community are now based there.
Present
Most of the Indians and Indian Filipinos in the Philippines are SindhiSindhi people
Sindhis are a Sindhi speaking socio-ethnic group of people originating from Sindh, a province Formerly of British India, now in Pakistan. Today Sindhis that live in Pakistan belong to various religious denominations including Islam, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Sikhism and Christianity...
and Punjabi
Punjabi people
The Punjabi people , ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ), also Panjabi people, are an Indo-Aryan group from South Asia. They are the second largest of the many ethnic groups in South Asia. They originate in the Punjab region, which has been been the location of some of the oldest civilizations in the world including, the...
as well as a large Tamil
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
population. Many are fluent in Tagalog
Tagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as well as the local language of the provinces and islands. Many are prosperous middle and higher class with their main occupations in clothing
Clothing
Clothing refers to any covering for the human body that is worn. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic and is a feature of nearly all human societies...
sales and marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
. Sikhs are involved largely in finance
Finance
"Finance" is often defined simply as the management of money or “funds” management Modern finance, however, is a family of business activity that includes the origination, marketing, and management of cash and money surrogates through a variety of capital accounts, instruments, and markets created...
, and sales
Sales
A sale is the act of selling a product or service in return for money or other compensation. It is an act of completion of a commercial activity....
and marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
. Most of the Indian Filipinos and Indian expatriates are Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
and Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
, but have assimilated into Filipino culture and some are Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
. There is a main Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
and Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
temple in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
.
Many Indians have intermarried with Filipinos, more so than in neighboring countries such as Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, Malaysia, and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, mainly because their populations are largely Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, and the Indians there are averse to marrying Muslims in those host countries.
Notable Filipino people of Indian descent
- Sharmaine ArnaizSharmaine ArnaizSharmaine Arnaiz is a Filipino actress.-Biography:She was born Sharmila Velasco Pribhdas-Shahani to an Indian father and a mother of Ilonnga blood. She has a younger sister who is also an actress named Bunny Paras and their mother is the sister of the mother of Patrick Garcia and Cheska...
- Filipina actress - Ramon BagatsingRamon BagatsingDr. Ramon D. Bagatsing was the Mayor of Manila during Martial Law from 1971 to 1986. He was the first Indian Filipino to serve in this position.-Early Life and Military Career:...
- Former Mayor of ManilaMayor of ManilaThe Mayor of Manila is the head of the executive branch of the City of Manila's government. The mayor holds office at Manila City Hall. Like all local government heads in the Philippines, the mayor is elected via popular vote, and may not be elected for a fourth consecutive term... - Sanjay BeachSanjay BeachSanjay Rajiv Beach is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for four seasons for the New York Jets, the Green Bay Packers, and the San Francisco 49ers....
- American football player - Juan CaillesJuan CaillesJuan Cailles was a Filipino commander who served during the Philippine Revolution and Philippine-American War. He later served as a provincial politician.-Early life:...
- Commander who served during the Philippine Revolution and Philippine-American War - Samir GognaBoys Night Out (radio)Boys' Night Out is a Filipino evening radio talk show of Magic 89.9 hosted by DJ's Slick Rick , Tony Toni and Sam YG -Radio Tabloid:...
- Radio DJ personality - Khasim MirzaKhasim MirzaKhasim Mirza is a Filipino professional basketball player who currently plays for the Shopinas.com Clickers in the Philippine Basketball Association....
- Filipino professional basketball player - Venus Raj - Filipina Beauty Queen
- Janina San MiguelJanina San MiguelJanina Miller San Miguel is a Filipino beauty queen who was crowned Binibining Pilipinas World at the Binibining Pilipinas 2008 beauty pageant. She gained notoriety for her performance in the pageant's question and answer portion, where she lost her composure and gave an unfocused and rambling...
- Filipina beauty queen - Gardo VersozaGardo VersozaGardo Versoza, born Mennen Torres Polintan on November 8, 1969, is a popular Filipino actor who has appeared in over forty movies and dozens of television shows. He started out in roles such as Sabik Sa Halik, Machete II, Halimuyak Ng Babae and Kirot. Later, he went on to star in action movies...
- Filipino actor